Rock fans have been missing Canadian icons Rush sorely since their retirement, but we never could have guessed they’d be back quite like this! Rush returned for the South Park 25th Anniversary Concert of all things, and it was a rollicking good time! Surviving Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson teamed up with Primus and South Park co-creator Matt Stone to perform Rush’s 1977 single “Closer to the Heart” at the event.
Rush’s appearance was a complete shock, not only to the audience but also to Stone, who wasn’t told the band would be dropping in on the second night of the concert. The South Park creators have made no secret of their love for Rush, and Stone looked like a giddy schoolboy as he got the chance to play with his heroes. Aside from some excellent performances, the whole song is just a barrel of fun and is a must-watch for any Rush fans among The Music Man readership.
Stone uploaded the performance to the official South Park YouTube channel on August 15, 2022, where it has gained 1.7 million views. Fans came out in force below the video, adding comments such as “Imagine going to South Park concert to listen to funny songs and stories but then you also get to witness one of the most legendary musical moments” and “To see Geddy and Alex performing again after the loss of Neil is more beautiful than anything.”
Rush have only reunited twice since the passing of drummer Neil Peart on January 7, 2020. The band’s other reunion was for the tribute concert for late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022, although unfortunately that wasn’t pro shot. Rush truly were a force of nature in the live arena, as seen in this performance of “Tom Sawyer” in October 2007 with Peart.
Rush released “Closer to the Heart” in November 1977 as the lead single from their fifth album A Farewell to Kings. The prog rock tune is notable as Rush’s first hit in the UK, as it peaked at number 36 on the UK Singles chart in February 1978. The Music Man readers may be interested to know that the song also has the distinction of being the first Rush tune to feature a writing contribution from outside the band, as Peart co-wrote the lyrics with his friend Peter Talbot. In 1997, frontman Geddy Lee reflected on the importance of “Closer to the Heart” to the band’s career, saying, “It got us on the radio, the kinds of radio that would never normally associate with us, so it was as close as we ever came to a pop song… In the UK it had that effect, and in the US too.”
If you would like to hear more from the legendary band Rush, you can subscribe to their YouTube Channel for more incredible music. Connect with them on Facebook for the latest updates and join their community of fans.